On January 16th, 1964 The Whisky A Go’ Go’ opened in West Hollywood, CA and the first act was Johnny Rivers. In honor of the Whisky’s 60th anniversary a few acts to perform there in 1964 and 1965 played between January 11th and January 16th starting with Chocolate Watch Band and ending with Doors’ guitarist Robby Krieger. On January 15 Love Featuring Johnny Echols performed along with the Sloths who also performed at the Whisky back in 1964. Love now consists of co-founder/guitarist Johnny Echols, Mike Randle on guitar & vocals, Rusty Squeezebox on guitar & vocals, and David Green on drums. This was the band that performed with Love’s singer Arthur Lee in 1993-96 and again in 2001-2005. A benefit concert was held at the Whisky in 2006 by Echols Love drummer 1966-68 Michael Stuart-Ware with Baby Lemonade. Robert Plant and Nils Lofgren guested. Lee passed away just five weeks later from leukemia. In 2023 James Notle became the bassist replacing David Chapple, a member since 1993. In 2017 with the passing of bassist Johnny “Fleck” Fleckenstein, Echols became the last surviving founding member of Love. Love’s third album Forever Changes released in 1967 was not only inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, but also is part of the National Recording Registry.
Previously Love featuring Johnny Echols was known as the Love Band and Love Revisited. A set of mostly Love classics such as “A House is Not a Motel,” “Signed D.C.” and “7 and 7 Is” were performed. When it comes to L.A. artists in the 60s in the Psychedelic Rock scene, Love was one of the most important as well as one of the first Rock bands in America to have members of different races.
